Union Oppose London Bus Cut Plans
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nELEGATES from London Transport
garages are to meet today to discuss the reductions in bus mileage proposed by the L.T.E. At talks in London last week, representatives of the Transport and General Workers' Union refused to accept the suggested cuts.
The L.T.E., conscious of the loss of traffic that has followed the seven-week strike, as well as of the cost of the agreed pay increases, propose to withdraw 24 Central London bus routes from Mondays to Fridays. Other economy measures include the-partial withdrawal of 62 weekend services, the complete withdrawal of five country services, and reduced mileage on 200 other services. The L.T.E. have stated that the men's jobs were in no way endangered, and that the cuts would come into operation from August 20.
In reply, the Union claimed the scheme worsened the men's conditions and made no compensatory proposals. The point was also made that the cuts were a breach of the obligation of the Executive to • maintain adequate services for the public. The men felt that the economies were being made at the expense of themselves and the public, without corresponding efforts being made in administration and supervision.
For the four weeks ending July 13, which included the last five days of the stoppage, takings were £3,274,000. This compared with £4.433.000 for the month ending March 23—the last normal period, with no strike or public holidays.
The B.T.C. said that, allowing for the five days of the strike, the July results showed a dron of more than 10-per cent. in revenue, The absence of buses for nearly seven weeks had given impetus to the trend which, between 1950 and the start of the strike, had caused an overall drop of 21 per cent. in traffic.